graphic: epp.eu
The Moderate and Christian Democratic party representatives in the European Parliament are cleaning house. Both parties belong to the the conservative European party EPP. (EPP stands for the European People’s Party – but don’t be fooled by the name; it’s a center-right party.) Together, and with the other 160+ members in the EPP, they changed the rules regarding who can be kicked out of the party, and for what. By so doing, Viktor Orban’s representatives, members of his Fidesz party, saw the writing on the wall, and picked up and left.
“We have to be clear on our values, and they are not the same as Viktor Orbans” said Thomas Tobé, a Moderate party representative. “Viktor Orbán is going in an authoritarian direction where he is undermining rule of law, an independent media, and we cannot accept that” he continued.
For a long time, the thinking went that by keeping Fidesz in the EPP family, it could perhaps sway Fidesz and Orban away from grosser predations on democratic norms. Instead, it seemed that the softer approach chosen by the EPP only allowed more trespasses.
Unfortunately for many, most likely Fidesz representatives will just move over to the farther right party, the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), thereby strengthening the party that also Sweden’s Sweden Democrats call home. Obvs not a result that the EPP was aiming for, but something that was considered secondary to setting a standard for the party.